Conveyer.



No. 745,821. PATENTED DEC. 1, 1903. G. F. GREENWOOD.

GONVEYER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 19, 1902.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

PATENTED DEC. 1, 1903 G. P. GREENWOOD.

GONVEYER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 19, 1902.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

N0 MODEL.

mmmmmm No. 745,821. PATENTED DEC. 1, 1903. G. P. GREENWOOD. GONVEYER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 19, 1902.

NO MODEL. 4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

MM fr- M W I W PATENTED DEC. 1, 1903.

G. P. GREENWOOD.

GONVEYER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 19, 1902.

NO MODEL. 4 SHEETS-SHEET 4 L 647 Q47 9a 647 V 30 9 50$ 9/ I v ifllatented December I, 1902 UNTTED STATES PATENT GEEICE.

GUYON F. GREENWOOD, OF MIDDLETOlVN, NEW JERSEY.

CONVEYER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 745,821, dated December1, 1903.

i Application filed May 19. 1902. Serial No. 108,048 (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, GUYoNF. GREENWOOD, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of Middletown, in the county of Monmouth and State of NewJersey, temporarily located at Havana, Cuba, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in Oonveyers for Agricultural Purposes, of whichthe following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to produce a conveyer for economicallygathering all kinds of agricultural crops on large plantations anddepositing the same into storage-houses or into receptacles or cars bywhich they are transferred in large quantities to storehonses.

Crops are new com monly gathered by means of wagons or carts which arefilled by the laborers in the fields and transferred to the storehousesby draft-animals. This plan is objectionable on large plantationsbecause the large number of laborers and draft-animals required forquickly gathering the crops in the proper seasons renders the operationvery expensive. For instance, in gathering sugar-cane, sugar-beets, &c.,in the southern countries the products are harvested by hand labor andloaded into ox-carts, from which they are transferred to larger wagonsand conveyed to the storeho'uses-a very slow and expensive operation.

My invention comprises an agricultural conveyer made up of a pluralityof independent conveyer units arranged in a series extending across thefield from which the crops are to be gathered to a point where they areto be transferred to a car or suitable repository. These individualconveyer units are provided with independent means for propelling themover the field in a direction transverse to their feeding direction, andeach conveyer unitis also provided with independent means for operatingit. I prefer to provide aself-propelled car running upon a track forreceiving the product from the sectional conveyer. The propelling meansfor said car consists, preferably, of an electric motor receivingcurrent from a trolley-Wire or other suitable source of electric supply.The independent propelling and conveyer-operating means mounted upon theseveral conveyer units are also preferably electric motors receivingcurrent from the same source of electric supply. The independentconveyer units are flexibly and detachably connected so as to givefreedom of movement relatively in all directions within certain limitsand to enable the separation and interchange of the conveyer units. Theconveyer may be made up of any number of the independent units toproduce the desired length to suit the requirements of the field whichis to be harvested.

In gathering crops with my improved sectional traveling conveyer Ipropose to advance the conveyer slowly or intermittently. through thefield, so as to follow the harvesters or laborers who gather the cropand deposit it upon the conveyer, the feeding movement of the conveyerunits being uniform and continuous to transfer the crop to thereceiving-car. The receiving-car is also inter mittently propelled alongits track to maintain its proper relation to the depositing end of thesectional traveling conveyer.

My invention comprises many other details for practically carrying outmy plan for gathering agricultural crops, and in order that my inventionmay be fully understood I will first describe the same with reference tothe accompanying drawings and afterward point out the novelty moreparticularly in the annexed claims.

In said drawings, Figure l is a side elevation representing, on a smallscale, my improvedsectionalagricultural conveyerformed of a plurality ofindependent conveyer units. Fig. 2 is a similar view, on a larger scale,showing two of the conveyer units and the receiving-car into which theconveyer deposits the crops. Fig. 8 is a plan view of one of theconveyor units. Fig. 4 is a detail plan view illustrating thesteering-gear for the wheeled vehicle of one of the conveyer units. Fig.5

is a side elevation, on a larger scale, of one of the conveyer units,part being in section to show the conveyer belt and motor. Fig. 6 is adetail side elevation of one end of a conveyer unit, showing the endfolded over for convenience in transporting. Fig. 7 is a detailsectional View illustrating the adjustable take-up for the endlesstraveling conveyer-band of a conveyor unit. Fig. 8 is a detaillongitudinal sectional view illustrating the gearing between theindependent motor and traveling belt. Fig. 9 is a transverse sectionalview of one of the conveyer units, showing the wheeled supporting-truckin side elevation. Figs. 10 and 11 are detail views illustrating themeans for mechanically and detachably connecting the adjacent ends oftwo conveyer units to allow a slight relative movement in any direction.Fig. 12 is a detailsectional view illustratinga modified form ofindependent device which may be employed for propelling each of theconveyer units through the field. Fig. 13 is a diagrammatic Viewillustrating an electric-circuit system which may be employed foroperating the series of independent driving and propelling motors uponthe plurality of conveyer units. Fig. 14 is a similar view illustratingthe same circuits more in detail and also the Y three-wire electriccouplings which connect the individual conveyer units. Figs. 15 and 16are respectively a detail transverse sectional view and a detail sideelevation of the rail contact-shoe for the return-circuit of the motorsof the conveyer units. Figs. 17, 18, 19, and 20 are detail views of thethree-wire electric coupling which connects the circuitwires of theindependent conveyer units.

1 represents a suitable car-track which is preferably one of a series ofbranch lines which extend through a plantation at proper distances apartto conveniently carry out my plan for gathering crops. Upon this track 1travels a self-propelled car 2, preferably an electric car having apropelling motor 3, which receives current from a trolley supplywire 4,the electric circuit being completed through the track.

Cooperating with the self-propelled car 2 or other suitable stationaryor traveling repository I employ a sectional mobile con- Veyerconsisting of a plurality of independent conveyer units, which areadapted to be arranged approximately end to end or in a longitudinalseries extending approximately transversely to the trolleytrack 1. Eachconveyer unit is mounted upon a wheeled vehicle, the wheels of which aremounted upon axles extending parallel with the direction of feed of theconveyers, so as to enable the conveyer to progress through the fieldapproximately parallel with the trolley-track or transversely withrelation to the direction of feed of the conveyers.

I will first describe in detail one of the conveyer units and thenexplain the cooperation of the independent conveyer units and the mannerof using the sectional conveyer.

10 is the running-gear of a suitable vehicle mounted upon axles 11,carrying the traction and supporting wheels 12 12. An electric motor 13is suitably supported upon-the running-gear 10 and is geared to one ofthe axles 11 for propelling the vehicle. The front wheels 12 arepreferably arranged in the form of caster-wheels, with their verticalstems or axles 15 formed with forwardly-projecting fingers 16, which areengaged upon opposite faces by spiral springs 17 and 1S, confined in thecylindrical boxes 19 and 20 on the steering-frame 21, which is of yokeshape. The two arms of the steering-frame 21 arejournaled upon thecenters of the spindles 15, so that when the yoke is moved to one sideor the other the caster-wheels will be accordingly deflected from theircentral position. The springs 17 and 18 allow any slight deflections ofthe caster-wheels caused by encountering obstructions in the field, andat the same time said springs maintain the caster-wheels normally intheir adjusted position for maintaining the desired direction of theconveyer-vehicle through the field. The central bar 22 of the yoke 21 isformed with a series of holes 23. A rigid arm 21- projects forwardlyfrom the running-gear 10 of the vehicle and carries a centering-pin 25,which may engage in one of the holes 23 for maintaining thesteering-frame in the desired adjusted position. An arm or handle 26projects forwardly from the steering-yoke to facilitateits adjustment.

The wheels 12 12 are preferably flanged wheels, as shown, for tworeasons. The flanges will insure the vehicles being propelled in astraight course, and when it is desired to transport the conveyer unitsfrom one part of a plantation to another they can be placed upon thetrolley-track and coupled up electrically or mechanically and run to thedesired point.

Any suitable means may be provided for propelling the conveyer-vehiclethrough the field to be harvested. I prefer to provide eachconveyer-vehicle with an electric motor, such as 13, above referred to.I have not attempted to illustrate the specific structure of the motornor the means for gearing it to the vehicle-axle. Any approved form ofmotor and gearing may be employed.

In place of the electric motor for propelling the conveyer-vehicles Imay provide other forms of propelling meanssuch,for instance, as isillustrated in Fig. 12 of the drawings, in which a worm-gear 30 is keyedto the vehicleaxle 11 and meshes with a driving-worm 31, journaled inbracket-bearings 32 and carrying a hand-wheel 33 at its outer end. Theoperators can propel the vehicles intermittently by these hand-operatedmechanisms to cause the conveyors to follow sufficiently close to thelaborers.

Each conveyer-vehicle supports an elongated conveyer-frame, which isformed, preferably, of three hinged sections and extends parallel withthe vehicle-axles. The central section 35 of each con veyer is rigidlymounted upon the running-gear of the vehicle, while the end sections 36are hinged at 37 to the opposite ends of the central section. Slottedplates, such as 38, are pivoted to the outer sections 36 at 39 adjacenttohinges 37, and screws or bolts 10 pass through the slots 38 of plates38 and are threaded into the section 35 to securely lock the plates 38in the desired IIO adjusted position.

By this or other suitable means the movable outer sections 36 maybesecured in any desired angular relation to the central section 35.

41 is the conveyer-belt, formed of canvas or other suitable flexiblematerial. This web or belt of flexible material is mounted at its edgesupon suitable sprocket-chains 42 and carries the spaced cross slats 43.The sprocket-chains 42 of the belt 41 travel around and are supportedupon the sprocket-wheels 44, which are mounted upon the transverseshafts 44, which are suitably journaled in the sectional conveyer-frame35 36. The traveling belt is driven by means of the drivingsprocket-wheels 45, which are mounted upon the driving-shaft 46,journaled centrally in the conveyer-frame section 35, said shaftcarrying a gear-wheel 49, which meshes with a driving-gear 48 upon thearmature-shaft 48 of an electric motor 47. The motor 47 is suitablymounted upon the central conveyerframe section 35 and receives electriccurrent through the circuit-wires under the control of the controller,as hereinafter explained.

Each conveyer-section is preferably provided with a belt-tighteningdevice, as shown in Fig. 7 of the drawings, to maintain theconveyer-oelt in properly-stretched condition. This belt-tighteningdevice may be of ordinary construction, as shown, in which one ofthesprocket-wheel-supporting shafts 44 is journaled in adjustable blocks50, which slide in ways 51 of one of the outer conveyer-frame sections36 and is engaged by adj usting-screws 52, threaded through blocks 53.

55 is a metal yoke which is freely journaled upon the extended ends ofthe shafts 44 at the extreme outer ends of the conveyer-frame sections36. These yohes 55 are capable of free movement upon the shafts 44'.Each yoke 55 has a central pivot-opening 55", adapted to receive headedpivot-bolt 56, provided with a cotter-pin 57. The yokes 55 are for thepurpose of mechanically connecting the adjacent ends of theconveyer-sections when they are arranged end to end to form a sectionalconveyer as contemplated by my invention. The adjacent conveyer unitsare flexibly coupled by passing the pivot-bolts 56 through thepivot-openings 55 of the yokes of the adjacent ends of the conveyerunits and inserting the cotter-pin 57 for-holding the pivot-pin inplace. It will be observed particularly by referring to Fig. 11 of thedrawings that sufficient space is allowed between the cotter-pin 57 andhead of the pivot-bolt 56 to afford ample vertical play between thepivotally-connected yokes. This allows for any relative verticalvibrations of the conveyer units. The pivotalconnection between theyokes allows any relative lateral play between the connected conveyerunits. This flexible mechanical connection between the conveyer-sectionsis necessary because of the independent propulsion of theconveyersections and the unevenness of the ground I over which thesectional conveyer must pass.

In Figs. 13 and 14 of the drawings I have represented anelectric-circuitsystem for supplying electricity to the series ofindependent belt-driving and Vehicle-propelling motors carried by theindependent conveyer units. In said figures, represents a generator; 76,the track-rails; 77, the trolleywire; 78, the current-supplying trolleyfor the conveyer-motors; 79, the controller for the vehicle-propellingmotors 30; 80, the controller for the belt-driving motors 47; 81, 82,and 83, the circuit-wires, including the independent motors in multiple,and 84 the contact-shoe connecting the return-wire 82 with one of thetrack-rails 76. The controllers 79 and 80 may be of any approvedconstruction. These controllers are represented diagrammatically in theform of the ordinary starting-boxes. The electric car 2 receives currentfrom the trolley-wire 77 through the trolley 85. The contact-shoe 84 forthe return-current of the conveyer-motors is preferably in the formshown in Figs. 15 and 16, in which it fits loosely over the track-rail76 and is tapered from its center toward its ends to facilitate thepassage of the car 2 thereover when the car is run up into position toreceive material from the conveyer. In addition to the electricconnection of the shoe 84 with the circuit return-wire 82 I prefer toconnect the shoe with an arm 87, which is adapted to be suitably securedto one of the conveyer-sections, the connection between the arm and theshoe being represented in the form of a chain 88.

To facilitate the coupling up of the circuitwires of the severalindependent conveyer units, I prefer to provide some suitable electriccoupling. For the three wire system illustrated and above described Imay employ the electric coupling shown in Figs. 14, 17, 18, 19, and 20of the drawings. The coupling shown comprises two cylindrical shells orsections 9l,formed,respectively,with atongue or projection 92 and arecess or socket 93, which fit one within the other to determine theproper coupling relation of the sections. The three circuit-wires 81,82, and 83 are electrically connected'with the terminals 94 of thecoupling-sections. The terminals 94 of coupling-section 90 are connectedwith the rods or stems 95,which extend through and are suitablyinsulated within the coupling-ring and project beyond the inner face ofthe coupling-section 90, while the terminals 94 of section 91 areconnected with the insulated cores 96, formed with the stem-receivingsockets 97. In joining the coupling-sections 90 and 91 the projectingstems 95 will be forced into the sockets 97 of cores 96, therebyproperly connecting up the circuit-wires 81, 82, and 83 of theindividual conveyer units.

hen it is desired to transfer the sectional conveyer from one locationto another, the conveyer units are uncoupled electrically andmechanically, and the hinged outer sections 36 of each conveyer unit arefolded over onto the central rigid con veyer-section 35,as shown in Fig.6 of the drawings. This collapsed position of the conveyer units reducestheir dimensions very materially and renders them more convenient formoving from place to place. As stated above, the fianged wheels of theconveyer-vehicles adapt the conveyer units to run upon thetrolley-track.

When it is desired to gather the crops from a field with my improvedsectional conveyer, a sufficient number of'the conveyer units isarranged with the conveyer-vehicles parallel and the conveyer beltextending approximately end to end or longitudinally and at right anglesto the vehicles. The ends of the conveyer units are coupled up, as abovedescribed. Having arranged the receiving-car in proper relation at oneend of the sectional conveyer, the laborers proceed to gather the cropsand deposit them upon the traveling conveyer-belts. The conveyer-beltcontroller is set to drive the several independent belt-driving motorsat the proper speed, and the crops will be transferred from one conveyerunit to another until they are finally deposited in the receiving-car.As the laborers proceed through the field the operator graduallyadvances the sectional conveyer to followthem closeenoughforco'nvenience. When the car has been filled with the materialgathered, the operation is arrested until another car is run into place,when the operation may be continued as before.

With my improved sectional conveyer I am able to gather the crops from alarge plantation with greater economy and more rapidly than hasheretofore been possible by other means known to me.

It may sometimes prove desirable upon large plantations to operate twoof my improved sectional oonveyers through a field extending between twolines of tracks, in which case the two conveyers will progress throughthe field in the same direction and will feed the gathered crop inopposite directions to two receiving-cars.

Many of the details of construction of my improved sectional conveyermay be modified without departing from the spirit of my invention, and Iwould have it understood that I do notintend to limit myself to any ofthe details of construction, except in those claims in which the detailsare specifically pointed out.

I desire to claim, broadly, a conveyer comprising a plurality ofindependent conveyer units each carrying its own actuating mechanism,arranged to act successively for transferring material from one point toanother. I also desire to claim, broadly, such a sectional conveyer incombination with a track and a car traveling upon said track and adaptedto receive material from the conveyer.

Having thus described my invention, the

following is whatI claim as new therein and desire to secure by LettersPatent:

1. In a machine of the character described, the combination with avehicle, of aconveyer comprising a plurality of independent unitsmovable relatively to the vehicle, and constructed to receive and conveycrops from a field to said vehicle, and means to advance said conveyeron the field as the gathering of the crops advances.

2. In a machine of the character described, the combination with meansfor conveying crops in one direction, and a conveyer comprising aplurality of independent units for conveying the crops to the firstmeans, extending transversely thereto, and movable longitudinallyrelatively thereto.

3. The combination of a track, and a car traveling upon said track, witha conveyer independent of the track and the car comprising a pluralityof independent units extending transversely to said track and adapted totravel approximately parallel with said track and convey material tosaid car, substantially for the purposes specified.

4. The combination of a track, and a car traveling upon said track, witha conveyor independent of the track and the car comprising a pluralityof independent units extending transversely to said track and adapted toconvey material to said car, and means for propelling said conveyer tocause it to travel approximately parallel with said track, substantiallyfor the purposes specified.

5. The combination of a track and a selfpropelled car traveling uponsaid track, with a self-propelled conveyerindependent of the track andthe car extending transversely to said track and adapted to travelapproximately parallel with said track and convey material to said car,substantially for the purposes specified.

6. The combination of a track, and a car traveling upon said track, witha conveyer independent of the track and the car compris ing a pluralityof independent units extending transversely to said track and adapted totravel approximately parallel with said track, and means for operatingthe conveyer to cause it to convey material to said car, substantiallyfor the purposes specified.

7. The combination of a track, a car traveling upon said track, andmeans for propelling said car, with a vehicle independent of the trackand the car comprising a plurality of independent units adapted totravel approximately parallel with said track, a conveyor mounted uponand extending transversely of said vehicle and adapted to conveymaterial to said car, and means for operating said conveyer,substantially as set forth.

8. The combination of a track, a car traveling upon said track, andmeans for propelling said car, with a vehicle independent of the trackand the car comprising a plurality of independent units adapted totravel approxielectric motor mounted upon and adapted to propel saidvehicle, a conveyor mounted upon and extending transversely of saidvehicle and adapted to convey material to said car, anindependentelectric motor for driving said conveyor, and meansconnecting said motors with the electric supply, substantially as setforth.

10. A conveyor comprising a series of independent conveyer units eachcarrying its own actuating mechanism arranged to cooperate fortransferring material from one point to another, substantially for thepurposes specified.

11. A conveyor comprising a series of independent self-propelledconveyor units arranged to cooperate for transferring material from onepoint to another, substantially for the purposes specified.

12. Aconvoyercomprising a series of independent selfpropelled conveyorunits, and means for operating said conveyor units in unison,substantially for the purposes specified.

13. A conveyor comprising a series of independent conveyer units adaptedto progress transversely to their direction of feed, means for operatingthe conveyor units, and means for propelling the conveyor units,substantially for the purposes specified.

1a. A conveyor comprising a series of independent electrically-operatedconveyor units, mechanical and electrical means connecting said units,and means for propelling the conveyor units transversely to thedirection of feed, substantially for the purposes specified.

15. The combination of aplurality of independently-operated conveyorunits, means for advancing said conveyor units transversely to theirdirection of feed, and a receptacle arranged to receive materialconveyed by said conveyor units, substantially for the purposesspecified.

16. The combination of a plurality of independently-operated conveyorunits, means for advancing said conveyor units transversely to theirdirection of feed, and a self-propelled car or traveling receptaclearranged to receive material conveyed by said conveyor units,substantially as set forth.

17. The combination of a plurality of independently-operated conveyorunits, means for independently advancing said conveyor unitstransversely to their direction of feed, and a car arranged to receivematerial from said versely of each of said vehicles,indopendent meansfor operating each of said conveyors, and a car arranged to receivematerial from said plurality of endless conveyors and having meansadapted to propel it approximately parallel with the direction ofadvancement of the vehicles, substantially as set forth.

19. The combination of a plurality of vehicles, independent means forpropelling each of said vehicles, an independent endless convoyermounted upon and extending transversely of each of said vehicles,mechanical means flexibly connecting the adjacent ends of saidconveyors, independent means for driving each of said conveyors, and acar arranged to receive material. from said convoyers and havingpropelling means adapted to propel it approximately parallel with thedirection of advancement of said vehicles, substantially as set forth.

20. The combination of a plurality of vehicles, independent means forpropelling each of said vehicles, means for operatively connecting allof said independent propelling means, an independent endless conveyormounted upon and extending transversely of each of said vehicles, saidconveyors being arranged in a longitudinal series, mechanical meansflexibly connecting the adjacent ends of said endless conveyors,independent means for driving each of said conveyors, means coupling theindependent driving means of the conveyor, a car arranged to receivematerial from said endless conveyors and having suitable propellingmeans, and a common source of power operatively communicating with thepropelling means of the Vehicles, the driving means of the conveyors,and the propelling means of the car, substantially as set forth.

21. The combination of a plurality of independent vohicles arranged totravel in parallel lines, independent propelling means for each of saidvehicles, an independent endless conveyor mounted upon and extendingtransversely of each of said vehicles, independent means for drivingeach of said conveyors,-

moans for operatively connecting the independent driving means of saidconveyors, mechanical means for flexibly connecting the adjacent ends ofsaid conveyors, and a car arranged to receive material from saidconveyers and having means for propelling it approximately parallol Withthe direction of movement of said vehicles, substantially as set forth.

22. The combination of a plurality of vehicles, an independent electricmotor mounted upon and adapted to drive each of said conveyers beingarranged in line and adapted to operate successively upon material to beconveyed from one point to another, a

source of electric supply, electric circuits connecting all of saidindependent motors with the electric supply, and a car arranged toreceive the material from said series of conveyers and having means forpropelling it, substantially as set forth.

23. The combination of a series of endless conveyers arrangedapproximately end to end and adapted to feed from one to another, meansfor driving said conveyers, and means for advancing said series ofconveyers-transversely to the direction of feed, substantially for thepurposes specified.

24. The combination of a series of endless conveyers arrangedapproximately end to end and adapted to feed from one to another,independent means for driving each of said conveyers, and independentmeans for advancing each of said conveyers to cause the series ofconveyers to advance transversely of the direction of feed,substantially for the purposes specified.

25. The combination of a series of endless conveyers arrangedapproximately end to end and adapted to feed from one to another,independent means for driving each of said conveyers, independent meansfor advancing each of said conveyers to cause the series of conveyers toadvance transversely of the direction of feed, means operativelyconnecting the independent driving means of the conveyers, and meansoperatively connecting the independent advancing means of the conveyers,substantially for the purposes specifled.

26. The combination of a longitudinallyoperating said conveyers inunison,and means for simultaneously advancing all of the conveyers ofthe series, in a direction transverse to their direction of feed,substantially for the purposes specified.

28. The combination of a'longitudinallyarranged series of endlessconveyers adapted to successively act upon material to be transferredfrom one point to another, means for.

operating said conveyers, means for advancing said series of conveyersin a direction transverse to their direction of feed, a car adapted toreceive material from said series of conveyers, and means for advancingsaid car parallel with the advancing direction of the series ofconveyers, substantially for the purposes specified.

29. The combination of a car having means for propelling it, with aseries of endless conveyers arranged approximately end to end andextending transversely of the direction of movement of the car andadapted to convey material to the car, means for operating said endlessconveyers, and means for advancing said series of endless conveyers in adirection parallel with the direction of movement of the car,substantially as set forth.

GUYON F. GREENWOOD.

lrVituesses:

DAVID GRANT, M. G. HUBBARD.

